Passenger rail news – Page 55
-
In depthGermany: Regional rail model called into question
Problems at Keolis and Abellio suggest that Germany’s long-standing model for contracting out the operation of regional and local rail services may no longer be fit for purpose. Murray Hughes investigates.
-
NewsBattery trains ordered for Hermann-Hesse-Bahn
GERMANY: Baden-Württemberg’s rolling stock owning body SFBW has ordered three Mireo Plus B battery-electric multiple-units from Siemens Mobility for use on Hermann-Hesse-Bahn services from December 2023. The BEMUs will use the 15 kV 16·7 Hz overhead electrification for power and to charge their batteries between Renningen ...
-
Rail Business UKSE Trains takes over Southeastern services
UK: Southeastern services were transferred to the SE Trains subsidiary of the Department for Transport’s Operator of Last Resort when the directly-awarded management contract held by Govia’s London South Eastern Railway expired at 02.00 on October 17. DfT had an option to extend the contract to ...
-
In depthDenmark: Getting the passengers back
With a substantial investment strategy in place and negotiations for a new operating contract underway, Denmark’s state passenger operator is positioning itself to drive modal shift in a post-Covid recovery, DSB Chief Executive Flemming Jensen tells Chris Jackson.
-
NewsRefurbished EMU to offer tourist-oriented Osaka – Kyoto service
JAPAN: Kinki Nippon Railway (Kintetsu) has announced plans to refurbish a withdrawn four-car Series 12200 EMU ahead of the launch of a new service to be marketed as the Ayoyoshi Limited Express.
-
Rail Business UKDfT begins market engagement on future Passenger Service Contracts
UK: The Department for Transport has announced the first phase of engagement with industry stakeholders regarding plans for the Passenger Service Contracts which will replace the previous franchising system. A central part of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, PSCs are intended to encourage greater private sector ...
-
NewsVision for a seamless European rail passenger ticketing experience
EUROPE: A position paper setting out a long-term ‘political vision’ for the seamless planning and booking of international rail journeys has been published by the Community of European Railway & Infrastructure Companies. However, independent passenger operators are disappointed at the lack of firm commitments.
-
Rail Business UKVirtual reality simulation aims to ‘empower people to use public transport’
UK: A virtual reality simulation is being developed to enable disabled passengers to take simulated journeys where they can experience trains and stations, and interact with on-board staff to find out about the support available. Northern’s Commercial & Customer Director Mark Powles said the aim is ...
-
NewsEurostar brand to remain after Thalys merger
EUROPE: European high speed operators Eurostar and Thalys confirmed on October 4 that their planned merger announced in September 2019 is on course to be completed ‘within two to three years’, with a formal submission to the European Commission’s competition authority expected in 2022. Being taken ...
-
NewsInvestment needed to roll out Digital Capacity Management
EUROPE: Associations representing infrastructures managers and train operators have endorsed a joint call for EU funding to help roll out Digital Capacity Management to optimise the utilisation of the continent’s rail network for both freight and passenger traffic.
-
NewsAgilis selected for Oberfranken operating contract
GERMANY: Bayern Land railway agency BEG has selected Agilis for a contract to operate regional passenger services in Oberfranken for 12 years from December 2023. The contract will bring together all diesel-worked services in the region, most of which are currently operated by Agilis with some ...
-
NewsBrightline fleet expansion begins as Orlando extension nears completion
USA: The first of the additional Venture trainsets which Siemens Mobility is building for the second phase of Brightline’s Miami – Orlando inter-city service was unveiled at the manufacturer’s Sacramento plant on September 28.
-
NewsFirst VIA Rail trainset arrives for testing
CANADA: The first of 32 inter-city trainsets being built for VIA Rail has been dispatched from the Siemens Mobility plant in Sacramento to the operator’s Montréal maintenance depot for testing and commissioning. Following delivery, the first train is expected to be tested ...
-
NewsOuigo to launch loco-hauled trains and serve more destinations
FRANCE: SNCF’s low-cost subsidiary Ouigo is to launch three additional routes from spring 2022, using refurbished loco-hauled trains to augment its high-density TGV trainsets.
-
NewsImpact of the pandemic on rail remains ‘dire’, says CER
EUROPE: The September update of the Community of European Railway & Infrastructure Companies’ Covid Impact Tracker shows signs of improvement for passenger train services, but none for freight and a worsening of the financial situation for infrastructure managers.
-
NewsUIC to host Rail Accessibility Day
ACCESSIBILITY: The International Union of Railways is to hold an online Rail Accessibility Day to raise awareness of the importance of inclusion, highlight the efforts being made to improve accessibility and discuss challenges which the industry faces. The event on October 5 will include representatives of ...
-
NewsRailcoop awarded operating licence
FRANCE: Open access operator Railcoop has been granted an operating licence to run both passenger and freight trains, marking another step in the not-for-profit co-operative’s journey towards regular day-to-day operations.
-
Rail Business UKOperator of Last Resort to take over Southeastern after ‘£25m breach of franchise agreement’
UK: The Department for Transport’s Operator of Last Resort is to take over the running of Southeastern services after Govia’s current management contract expires on October 16. The government’s decision follows an investigation of profit sharing agreements, which found that more than £25m of historic taxpayer ...
-
NewsIstanbul’s historic European terminus to be reopened
TURKEY: The Ministry for Transport is to call tenders for the reopening of the 8 km section of railway into Istanbul’s historic European terminus at Sirkeci. The double-track main line was cut back in 2013 to allow construction of the cross-Bosporus Marmaray commuter link, which diverges ...
-
NewsDB begins work to electrify to the Austrian border
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has begun work to install 15 kV 16·7 Hz electrification on a 1·5 km section of line between Pfronten-Steinach and the Austrian border at Schönbichl. This will allow electric operation of trains to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and München via Austria’s Ausserfernbahn, which is not connected ...